The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-06-16
q Candid S1ntament.

way journalist can do his duty to the
to which he belongs. Reply
ing to correspondent who complains of the
fear expressed by the editor that the Top
position Will this fall carry the State it
proceeds to give its reasons for this appre-
hension. 1t says:
The work of the last Congress has loaded
the party with difficulties in the two States
OF Virginia and North Carolina. The fail
ure to t;tll8 off the tobacco tax cannot be
defended by Onr speakers on the stump
ard our opponents will make fine use OF
this nad blunder, AS to the Blair bill good
servant man IN Virginia can be i'll doubt
as t9 the fact that the failure of the Dem
oegatic House to pass this bill when Re
publican Senate had already voted its APP
proval, fills our way with difficulties
Then the hard times will be big burden
for the party in power to carry. The man
whois struggling in hopeless difficulties
will strike blindly at any object that his
maddened mind may suggest"
Continuing, our contemporary comes
down to the State Legislature and the
debt question. 1T says:
Now as to the work Of the Legislature
in the session just closed. We do not think
the Democracy has lost any material ground
by that. In fact the Democracy gained a
little as to the respect of the debtpayers by
showing Willingness to act more fairly
towards the public creditors than the Rid
dl.bereer bill provides for. But the mis-
fortune of not securing a settlement will
be looked upon by the voters of the I'M
| reasoning and factious class as equal to
crime There will be more of these than
of the sensible debt-payers who will appre-
ciate the efforts Of the Legislature so fay
as they deserve approval. But we would
not have IL" to think that we approve al
together of his Legislative friends. The
composition of the debt committee was
wretched blunder and one that would have
cost the party dear. if the commission on
he bondholders side had not made such
foolish mistakes themselves that the
, faults of our side were somewhat thrown
! IN the shade In making up an opinion
for the State we must not stick TO Am
herst The people here are so loyal and
conservative that it is hard to conceive Of
Inc circumstances under which the county
would go Republican when there is such
a liberal margin too in the way OF Dem
ooratic majority. But in other counties
the majority in a great number OF cases
was less than ten in the election which
gave rs tWo-thirds OF the houses OF th.,
lpresent Legislature. The change oil
live votes in any one OF those counties
would give the other side the dele
cate, and the change for is is thus seen
to be very narrow. A majority OF thou
sand in Amherst would not help at all
in the other counties. l. says "a have
gone further than the proposition submit
ed on the part of the State would have
necessitated an increase of taxation, =
This is a great mistake. The States net
revenue IS larger by several hundred thou
sand dollars than appears by the statement
published by the governor. II is not ne
cessary expense of the government to pay
double interest to the Miller Manual Labor
School, a purely county institul ion, ana to
the various colleges which are purely sec
; tartan institutions. In this way largely
over one hundred thousand dollars is spent
annually which ought to go to tie public
schools, il the State has the money to
spare, Then again $500, 900, which IS now
paid on arrearages will not have TO be paid
after next year. as that debt will thea be
paid, Here then is over $500 600, to be
! added to the net revenue rs the governor
presents it. There are other items OF
smaller sums which would add materially
to the net revenue.
Wemust be equally frank in the expires
sion of the belief that "Ihe opposition
will not carry the State this fail. ii they d.
not measure up to the requirements OF TIT
public sense Of Justice. The Republicans
must meet every issue germane to the fal
cassyass frank ly and fully, and eliminate
every disturbing and inapposte question
IL, 9iuconsinn in fhpl
ranks There are interests to be subserget
that ought to rebLke factious and selfish
purposes and call out the best thoughts
and the highest resolves Of the people,
4 Candidates should be chosen. not SO mucl
for their partiZan zeal CT personal attach
r ments, butjsbecause of their recognized
l conservatism aud common sense views o
. public questions. as we'll IS their devotion
3 to the State. The next Legislature vii
/ 10 an important one, for it will have tt
deal with vital interests, now complicated
| and embarrassing. the disposition OF which
will have reaching effect either TO
, good or harm upon the Coma GGYealth.-
The canvass should be confined exclusive.
, to questions pertaining to the internal at
fairs of the State and the public mind ed
ueltad I'D to the paramount Importance O
adjusting them in the light of good taitl
, and wise public policy. Unless the canvas
, is thus conducted the probabilities ar
; that we will have another lease Of powe
for the Democratic party, and another leg
islature controlled by politicians who vii
consider secondary tile Interests of the PEG
: ole. The indications point to an acrimo
NOUS contention between the Barbour All
Lee factions, looking TO the United State
Senate It would lee natural for the Dem
, ocrats to seek to ignore the more direc
/ questions of State legislation and admin
istxation They cannot defend their re
cord la tiais respect. They cannot satisf
the people th&S vixen the law says the SEES
sion of the Legislature shall be blennia
that there WAS necessity for FIVE session
II Instead of one. They cannot satisfy tk
D people that party claiming TO consery'
+ the public welfare, should consume S
D much time and at such heavy expense !
t making confusion worse G0nfOnnded.-
: They cannot satisfy the people that the il
S terests OF Virginia lie III the enactment O
: fntile legislation. designed to nullify tn
: decisions of the Courts and invite collllc
: with the Federal authorities. Nor vii
e they attempt to do SO. They will seek Il
= absorb public attention in the contest fo
United States Senator. They will not dis
c,lss the Blair educational bill. the rfpes
I of the tobacco tax, the abuse OF poWe
vi manifested in the various unnecessary
costiy ard fTnltlt SIS sessions OF the Legs
D \ lature, but wish endeavor to subordinat
A all these important iaierests 10 the on
v questionable shall he the next Unite
$ States Senator, Barbour or 4.ee2 The
= should he permitted TO Wrangle over thla
e to their heats content. And while the
/ lra thus engaged the Republicans Shout
r Address the people upon their true inter
= ,eSts-interests which come down to thei
4 pockets, their heartlLstapeS. theirmaterif
9 welfare, the future growth and prpsperit
of the COMMONWEALTH credit of th
:, State and the adjustment of the irritatin
and aggravating debt complications. !
this should be their policy they need nc